A Befitting Crown For Ademola Lookman!

 

The meaning of Ademola is: Crown is Added to My Wealth,

 Gender: Boy.

Origin: African, Yoruba.

As part of Yoruba traditional beliefs, names are given to their newborn babies, as prayers/wishes of expectations by their parents for them.

 

On the 22nd May 2024 when Atalanta FC of Italy walloped the hitherto unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen FC of Germany, during the final of the UEFA Europa Cup competition, played in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin-Ireland, it was a culmination of a long season of grit and determination by both sides in their various leagues. Bayer Leverkusen FC had just broken the highest unbeaten run in a season for any European club side and had remained so for 51 matches. With this feat, they won the German Bundesliga, upsetting perennial winners, Bayern Munich FC, and Borussia Dortmund amongst others. Everyone predicted them as the favorites to win the Europa Cup but this was not to be because of the actions of a sleek Nigerian attacking-minded player.

Nigerian-born, Ademola Lookman, at 26, has journeyed to several European club sides in his struggle to register his imprints in the annals of football. Standing at 5’ 9, using his speed, good ball control, and swerves, he’s any defender’s nightmare and so much of that was on display when he finally won his biggest crown of glory (so far), at club level.

 Lookman has played for Charlton Athletic FC, Everton, Fulham (loan), Leicester City (loan), and RB Leipzig (loan), before joining Atalanta FC. He also has the distinction of having played for the English U-19, 20, and 21 national teams, before switching his allegiance to Nigeria, his fatherland. He won the FIFA U-20 World Cup competition with England and was gradually endearing himself to the senior team coaches when he decided to make the important decision of switching to Nigeria.

He was born in Wandsworth, U.K. with Nigerian parentage and was finally enthroned with a glowing Crown after his hat-trick which ended Leverkusen's 51-match winning streak.  His team won their first-ever continental title and Lookman was voted the most valuable player of the match.

His exploits this season had started during the 2024 CAF African Nations Cup wherein Nigeria virtually rode on his wings to narrowly lose the title to hosts, Cote d’Ivoire. Throughout the competition, he displayed his extraordinary football skills and attacking qualities, leaving nobody in doubt about his assorted wealth of talents.

 Within one football season, Ademola Lookman has done so much that in the immediate future, he'd remain a marked man in every match. His qualities have begun to draw so much recognition that former  Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur FC star, Peter Crouch, had in the course of his punditry, discourteously asserted that Ademola Lookman missed his opportunity to play for England due to his impatience. As disgusting as the statement sounds, it positively affirms the fact that he's missed by his country of birth.

Ademola Lookman would be gunning for greater glory if he's able to remain consistent with his current form throughout the 2024 calendar year. This would obviously attract transfer offers from bigger clubs and more honors such as the CAF ANC Best Player of the Year. That would not be an impossible task to achieve!